Corrupt Burt Jones - The Best Interest Is Self-Interest Image

The Best Interest Is Self-Interest

Burt Jones believes “the best interest is self-interest.” Early in his career in public life, Burt Jones made his way onto the Butts County Water and Sewer Authority.1 There, he used his position to help his family skirt regulations that applied to everyone else to ensure the development of his father’s industrial park, Van Mar Park,2 was a success.3 Rather than recuse himself, Burt voted to make it happen, and the Jones family got rich.4

  1. https://www.buttswsa.com/2009/06/09/june-9-2009-regular-board-meeting/ ↩︎

  2. Articles of Incorporation, Van Mar Park, LLC, 12/19/03 ↩︎

  3. Butts County, Easement, Book 687, Page 276, 10/28/11 ↩︎

  4. https://www.buttswsa.com/2011/05/17/may-17-2011-regualr-board-meeting/ ↩︎

Corrupt Burt Jones - Power, Prizes, and Private Profit Image

Power, Prizes, and Private Profit

In Georgia, the Coin Operated Amusement Machines (COAM) are highly regulated and highly lucrative. But it helps to know the regulators. The Jones family has 14 locations with gaming machines1 that retain 43.5% of all profits.2 When Burt Jones was a State Senator, his sister, Natalie, was appointed to the board that regulates it.3 When he became Lt. Governor, he ushered through a bill to increase their family’s profits by expanding awardable prizes.4

Burt Jones Family Slot Machines

  1. https://jonespetroleum.com/locations ↩︎

  2. https://www.audits.ga.gov/ReportSearch/download/31925 ↩︎

  3. https://nathandeal.georgia.gov/sites/nathandeal.georgia.gov/files/related_files/document/10.27.17.05.pdf ↩︎

  4. https://thecurrentga.org/2023/02/20/bill-targets-coin-operated-game-payouts/ ↩︎

Corrupt Burt Jones - A Conflict of Interest in Plain Sight Image

A Conflict of Interest
in Plain Sight

As a State Senator, Burt Jones strong-armed the Georgia Department of Transportation to override local officials and make road improvements to help bring customers to his family’s businesses. The Chairman of his home county at the time said his actions were “certainly a conflict of interest and abuse of his power as an elected official.”1

  1. Mitch McEwen Affidavit, 2/27/20 ↩︎

Corrupt Burt Jones - Rivian Came to Georgia. The Jones Family Moved to Cash In. Image

Rivian Came to Georgia. The Jones Family Moved to Cash In.

Electric vehicle maker Rivian made major news when it announced the company was coming to Rutledge, Ga.1 However, it was not advertised that Burt Jones used his insider information about the project to have his family buy property one exit away for a gas station — knowing the impending increase in property values and customer traffic from the project would be lucrative.2345

Burt Jones’ Rivian Tweet

  1. https://www.rockdalenewtoncitizen.com/news/newton-approves-convenience-store-at-ga-highway-11-and-i-20-settles-lawwuit/article_6e0cfc04-004b-11ec-b09e-83177445470c.html ↩︎

  2. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/15/rivian-to-build-5-billion-electric-truck-plant-in-georgia-sources-say.html ↩︎

  3. https://qpublic.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx?AppID=794&LayerID=11825&PageTypeID=4&PageID=5723&KeyValue=0112000000017000 ↩︎

  4. https://www.ajc.com/news/local-official-siblings-stand-to-profit-from-rivian-factory-land-deal/7OIJWBMTXRCN7OQ5LEWWFZL3A4/ ↩︎

  5. https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2021/12/16/rivian-confirms-5b-georgia-manufacturing-facility.html ↩︎

Corrupt Burt Jones - The $40 Million Family Pipeline? Image

The $40 Million Family Pipeline?

In addition to twisting arms at the Capitol to overhaul hospital regulations so the Jones family could build a hospital for profit,1 Burt used his office to incentivize his family’s data center project.23 As Lt. Governor, he apparently schemed to funnel $40 million in taxpayer dollars from the state through his dad’s local board to develop the infrastructure for his hospital and data center projects.456

CON signing Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tweet

  1. https://www.ajc.com/politics/opinion-an-early-test-for-lt-gov-burt-jones-the-family-or-the-state/6IYCWVMUT5HGTDW55XWCRVJ7F4/ ↩︎

  2. https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/52065 ↩︎

  3. https://www.ajc.com/business/2025/10/10b-hospital-project-backed-by-burt-jones-includes-sea-of-data-centers/ ↩︎

  4. https://www.buttswsa.com/2025/01/02/november-19-2024-regular-board-meeting/ ↩︎

  5. https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/house-budget-and-research-office-document-library/previous-fiscal-years/2025-fiscal-year/amended_fy_2025_house_amendment_senate_substitute_march_3_2025_final.pdf?sfvrsn=ff9d6a77_2 — 16.13.4 85.4 Increase funds for state direct investment in water and sewer infrastructure. (Payments to Georgia Environmental Finance Authority) ↩︎

  6. https://www.buttswsa.com/2025/12/02/october-21-2025-regular-board-meeting/ ↩︎